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With a throttle prop and not much more, we join actress/playwright April Armstrong as the famed 1920’s aviatrix Coleman. She takes us with her on her stunt plane to make a deep dive from the skies into the crowd. What she seems to love most is doing the daredevil moves designed to thrill. How can she help but gleefully gloat at her mastery? And how can we not enjoy the ride, powered by the moxie-on-steroids that took Coleman to these heights.
From dirt poor rural Texas, and with the help of the Chicago Defender’s editor, Coleman manages to get to France so she could train as an aviator at one of the world’s top aviation schools. She becomes the first woman to get an international pilot’s license. But at this school she witnesses one of her fellow students plummet to his death— a fear that will always lurk somewhere beneath. Spoiler Alert: Eventually when she dies just as she feared, we see that even death doesn’t stop her from reaching greater heights.
International Black Theater Festival Hosts of a One-Woman Time Capsule
Women just didn’t do things like that…
Black women? Well that was even more unthinkable…
Beyond the biopic per se, April Armstrong’s tight script paints a vivid picture of Coleman’s time and place. Soar as she might, Coleman always had to take off and land where Jim Crow ruled.
In this writer’s opinion it is the tour de force performance by Armstrong that makes Coleman’s story come alive. With the fluidity of the best physical theater performer, Armstrong also transforms into Harriet Tubman, Joan of Arc and poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, to give us a glimpse into Coleman’s interior life propelling her forward with bravery at every turn.
Bessie Coleman’s story is one well worth telling, and both Armstrong’s pen and person brings it to life in a compelling way. TWO WINGS TO HEAVEN: THE BESSIE COLEMAN STORY is a top pick for your time.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Written and Performed by April Armstrong*
Directed and Dramaturgy by Sara Berg*
Musical Direction and Track Recordings by Mario E. Sprouse QLab
Design by John-Phillip Faienza
Original Music by April Armstrong
Photos courtesy of International Black Theater Festival
Bookmark the International Black Theater Festival website to keep track of future festival dates.
For information on upcoming performances of TWO WINGS TO HEAVEN: THE BESSIE COLEMAN STORY visit the April Armstrong website.
About the Author: Amy Munice
Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.
